God's providence a source of comfort and courage to
Christians8 p. [Raleigh, N. C.][s. n.][between 1861 and 1865]Call number 4666 Conf. (Rare Book Collection, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)

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THERE are few persons who deny, in terms, the Providential government of God.
But many adopt theories which are, in truth, a practical denial of it.

I. Some contend that god governs the world exclusively by general
laws. That, in creation, he imparted to the various forces, physical and moral,
certain qualities which continue unchanged and unchangeable, and by their interaction
produce the entire series of events.

Whatever glory this theory may be supposed to reflect upon the CREATOR, it is utterly
inconsistent with the idea of Providence. It represents God as flinging the Universe
from his creative hand, to work out its destiny unguarded and unchecked. It is, in fact,
but a disguised form of the doctrine of fate. Every event is the
result of necessity. As the watch marks the hour, or the vane veers to the wind, because
they are formed to do these things, so man and all other beings only accomplish their
predestined and necessary ends.

II. Others advocate a complex theory. As to ordinary individuals and common events,
their existence and end result from fixed laws—the laws of nature—but God
interposes to raise up distinguished
characters, and to bring to pass great events. His Providence, they say, resembles a map
upon which are marked the mountains and large rivers, the towns and cities; while the hills
and gently undulating vallies, the smaller streams, little villages
and the habitations of the people are unnoticed. National calamities God orders and controls,
great men for important crises he raises up and guides. But there is no eye ever watching over
the multitude, no hand providing for their wants, administering to their happiness and soothing
their sorrows. God may enter the palace of the prince, but he passes, unheeding, the hovel of the peasant.

It needs but little reflection to perceive the absurdity of this theory. Great events
are but the aggregate result of innumerable trivial causes. Distinguished characters spring
from a long line of unnoted ancestry. The revolution in which our fathers battled with Great
Britain for their birthright of freedom, and which gave existence to a nation late so prosperous
and happy, but now dismembered and groaning under wrong and oppression, even as the pen of
history traces its origin, sprang from no one mighty iniquity, but from a long continued
series of comparatively slight grievances. If Washington were the Chief of a special
providence, to what shall we ascribe the soldiers who fought his battles? Could he have
achieved his success without them?

III. It is alike the doctrine of reason, and of God's word, that God governs the world.
He “hath prepared his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom ruleth over all.”
By general laws, and by direct
interpositions, he works out his purposes. “He doeth his pleasure in the armies above
and in the earth beneath.”

To present in detail the proofs of this, will not be attempted. Two passages of Scripture
will sufficiently illustrate the teaching of the sacred volume.

1. In the prayer which Jesus taught his disciples occurs this petition, “Give us day
by day, our daily bread.” Here then, the provident care of God is invoked for the supply of one
of the most common and constantly recurring wants. The prayer supposes God to control all
the agencies which enter into the production and distribution of food. This prayer is to be
uttered by the thousands of Christians in all times and among all nations. Who can fail to
see, in the light of this simple and sublime direction, that Jesus regarded the providence
of God as at once special and universal?

2. Those accustomed to read the Bible anticipate, as the second reference, that discourse
of our Saviour in which he would fortify his followers against anxious care. “Behold
the fowls of the air; for they sow not, neither do they reap nor gather into barns; yet your
heavenly Father feedeth them. Consider the lillies of the field how they grow; they toil not
neither do they spin: and yet I say unto you that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed
like one of these.” “The very hairs of your head are all numbered.” Could
language be more explicit? Could illustration be more forcible? God adorns the lilly with
its beauty. God garners the good of the wandering sparrow. God numbers the hairs of his people.
Yes, God's hand is every where, and in every thing. “Thou openest thy hand and satisfieth
the desire of every living thing.” Anon, God would punish a people for their sins.
The heavens become as brass, and the earth as iron. Famine, gaunt and ghastly, stalks forth
in her work of desolation. “The pestilence that walketh in darkness” sweeps a
generation to its doom. War, ensanguined and horrific, spreads terror and death on every side.

IV. In order to derive comfort and courage from this great truth, it must be firmly believed.
A weak, or a wavering faith may serve us when skies are bright, and favorable winds fill our sails.
But when the dark tempest howls and rages around us, we need a firm, unyielding trust. Such a faith
the Christian should ever maintain. The Scriptures at once demand its exercise, and furnish the
amplest ground upon which to rest it. The character of God as therein revealed; express declarations;
incidental proof, and narratives illustrative of the divine government, all combine to originate and
sustain such a faith.

And yet the pious, even, in periods of great distress, come to doubt of God's providential
care. David records of himself many such periods of distrust and despondency. In the xxxi.
Psalm he says “I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes.” Such
despondency is not peculiar to him. Asaph felt it. His experience is recorded in the lxxiii.
Ps. As he witnessed the oppressions of the good, and the prosperity of the wicked, and writhed
under personal suffering, he exclaimed, “Verily I
have cleansed my heart in vain and washed my hands in innocency.” But when he drew near
to God in his sanctuary, his doubts were removed, his complaints hushed, and with adoring
gratitude he acknowledged the continued care of his heavenly Protector. “Whom have I
in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee. My flesh and my
heart faileth, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Thus, too,
David soon recovered his confidence and felt strong and joyful in God. “I trusted in thee,
O Lord: I said thou art my God. My times are in thy hand.” My times of suffering and deliverance,
of sorrow and of joy—all my times are in thy hand. Nothing can befall me but by thy appointment,
or permission. Here I rest confident and secure.

V. To our comfort and encouragement it is also necessary to acquiesce, heartily, in God's
providence.

One may feel that God reigns, and that it is useless to contend with him, while yet the
heart shall rebel against his government whenever it crosses its own purposes, or mars its
happiness. To man, with such a spirit of sullen submission, there is, there can be nothing but
apprehension and misery. Like the serf of an Eastern despot, he trembles though he dare not resist,
he shudders though he dare not complain.

Several considerations may be mentioned as concurring to produce a feeling of joyful
acquiescence in the providence of God.

1. God has a right to reign.

When we admit the right of government, every correct principle and
ingenuous felling prompts to
submission. He who rebels against rightful authority is a traitor. Resistance to usurpation
and tyranny is a virtue, but to resist rightful authority is among the greatest crimes. Whenever
the heart recognizes God's absolute right of government, nothing but depravity can lead to resistance
or complaint.

God made all things, and he has the right to govern them.

2. God reigns in Wisdom.

Human rulers, with the best established authority and the purest intentions, may err. But God's
government is ordered in perfect wisdom. Every reflecting man feels that he is incompetent
to self-protection. The intricate and multiplied machinery of events we cannot comprehend.
There are forces, known and unknown, constantly at work within and around us, which we can
neither control nor withstand. “It is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.”
Who can calculated the issues of an hour? Who, with prevision and steady hand, can direct his
bark over life's changing and billowy ocean to a predetermined haven?—Alas! We are blind
and need a guide. We are helpless and need a protector. For these wants the all-wise government
of God provides. “He seeth the end from the beginning.” He can make no mistake. He
is too wise to err.

3. God reigns in Goodness.

His providence is, generally, kind to all. “He maketh his sun to rise upon the evil
and upon the good, and sendeth his rain upon the just and upon the unjust.” How vast
and numerous are the blessings bestowed upon mankind—life, and health, and
friends; civil protection and domestic happiness. Truly “His paths drop fatness.”
Thus God, by his goodness, is constantly calling men to repentance. True, many afflictions befall us.
The good and the bad suffer. But the severities of God's providential government are rather corrective
than retributive. Especially is this the case regarding God's people. They may not enjoy a greater
measure of earthly prosperity of happiness than others. But their affliction, permitted by paternal
love to chasten and purify them, are part of the process by which their Father is preparing them for
fuller and sweeter communion with himself in this world, and for heaven at the end. “All
things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are the called according to
his purpose.” When the pious man can realize these truths he joyfully acknowledges God's
providence. At times mists may gather and obscure his vision, but he has only to recall the
“exceeding great and precious promises” of the Holy One—to remember how,
through shadows dark as midnight he led old Jacob until, with tears of joy, he fell upon the
neck of beloved Joseph and exclaimed, “I thought not to see thy face, but God hath shewed
me thy seed also,” to reflect upon the mercies of God to himself, and soon faith will re-assert
its power and exclaim, “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, and knoweth them
that trust in him.”

VI. Such a firm, acquiescing faith in God's Providence prompts to earnest, believing prayer.
David said, “But I trusted in thee, O Lord; I said, Thou are my God. My times are in thy
hand.”

PROVIDENCE OF GOD
1 God moves in a mysterious way,His wonders to perform:He plants his footsteps in the sea,And rides upon the storm.2 Deep in unfathomable minesOf never-failing skill,He treasures up his bright designs,And works his sovereign will.3 Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take,The clouds ye so much dreadAre big with mercy, and shall breakIn blessings on your head.4 Judge not the Lord by feeble senseBut trust him for his grace,Behind a frowning ProvidenceHe hidesa smiling face.5 His purposes will ripen fast,Unfolding every hour;The bud may have a bitter taste,But sweet will be the flower.6 Blind unbelief is sure to err,And scan his work in vain;God is his own interpreter,And he will make it plain.[Cowper.